Gannett Buys Six Texas TV Stations for $215 Million

DALLAS —London Broadcasting Co., a portfolio company of SunTx Capital Partners, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of six Texas based television stations to Gannett for $215 million in an all cash transaction. The acquisition includes KCEN (NBC) in Waco-Temple-Bryan, KYTX (CBS) in Tyler-Longview, KIII (ABC) in Corpus Christi, KBMT (ABC) and its digital sub-channel KJAC (NBC) in Beaumont-Port Arthur, KXVA (Fox) in Abilene-Sweetwater and KIDY (Fox) in San Angelo.

The transaction, which is expected to close this summer, is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Following the closing of the transaction, Phil Hurley, LBC’s current executive vice president and chief operating officer, will join Gannett and lead the six acquired stations.

LBC is a Dallas-based media company, which owns and operates media properties across the state. London’s Broadcasting Group is a mid-market broadcaster serving nearly 10 million Texans.

LBC said its Broadcast Group is one of the largest television broadcasters in Texas, with 28 channels in seven markets and serving approximately 40 percent of Texas households. Following the sale to Gannett, London will continue to own independent stations KTXD-TV in Dallas and KCEB-TV in the Tyler-Longview market.

London said the deal will enable to company to operate in five of the 15 mid-market Texas broadcast markets, reaching over 1 million television households, or 45 percent of the population of the mid-size Texas markets.